MANILA: Public transport drivers in Metro Manila began receiving P5,000 (US$84) fuel assistance on Tuesday (March 17), covering drivers of tricycles, jeepneys, buses and ride-hailing motorcycles and cars.
The aid programme aims to assist 396,352 public transport drivers in Metro Manila cope with rising fuel prices amid tensions in the Middle East, according to Ralph Recto, executive secretary of the Office of the President of the Philippines.
The distribution of financial assistance will extend to other public transport drivers outside of Metro Manila beginning April.
“Two wheels, three wheels, four wheels, six wheels—any vehicle that operates for hire will be considered for inclusion in the programme,” Recto said.
He added that the initiative was launched immediately upon the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to help drivers affected by rising fuel prices.
“The President’s priority is to immediately assist our drivers who are victims of the unrest in the Middle East. That is why this transport assistance programme was launched right away,” he said.
The first payouts began on March 17, with 135,196 tricycle drivers in Metro Manila getting their cash aid through the joint efforts of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Transportation (DOTr), and local government units (LGUs).
Marcos Jr. personally inspected the distribution of cash relief assistance at ASAC covered court in Barangay 627, Santa Mesa, Manila.
Respective LGUs will set up the payout sites for eligible tricycle drivers.
Following the initial rollout, the programme will extend to Transport Network Vehicle Servicedrivers, motorcycle taxi drivers, bus drivers and jeepney drivers in Metro Manila.
Recto said the distribution will expand nationwide by April, once the DSWD, DOTr, and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board finalise the list of beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, the government will also continue implementing the Libreng Sakay Programme in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao to help commuters cope with rising transport and commodity prices.
Recto said the government is currently doing an inventory of what it can deploy, and who could participate.
“There will be various modalities. We can deploy government-owned vehicles, for example. Or even contract buses and designate these as fare-free rides. We can also ask LGUs who run free bus services to extend the operating hours,” he added. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
